Tag Archives: handmade

Save the date for the return of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen to Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square on May 9, 10 & 11, 2014.

A perfect weekend to be outside with mom shopping American craft on the tree-lined boulevards of Rittenhouse Square.

Through a partnership with the Friends of Rittenhouse Square and in conjunction with the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen will bring its signature premier Fine Craft Fair, featuring 140 of its very finest craft artists, to downtown Philadelphia on May 9, 10 & 11, 2014. This is believed to be the first professional fine craft fair at the Square.

Founded in 1944 at the recommendation of Eleanor Roosevelt, the Pennsylvania Guild is one of the nation’s largest and most recognized craft guilds, specializing in the advocacy and support of more than 1,400 members whose handwork is known for its unparalleled skill and artistry. Fine craft is often defined as the hand and mind transformation of raw materials into inspired works of art. The finished products may be either traditional or contemporary in style and design.

“Our craftsmen and women pair the aesthetics of fine art with the technical precision of craftsmanship.” says Executive Director Sherrie Boyer. “This balance creates work that is visually unique yet often fully functional. Imagine a bowl or chair. Our artisans elevate these everyday objects into works of art with style and design so that using them daily is both delightful and practical.

The Guild’s fabulous 3-day outdoor show is in an elegant district of downtown Philadelphia and falls on Mother’s Day weekend. Bring your family for a beautiful park atmosphere with street cafes, crowded sidewalks and all the pleasure of a bustling urban setting.

An annual tradition for craft-lovers in the region, the Guild returns for its 7th year on the Wilmington Riverfront with independent artists who set up in boutique booths to showcase and sell their outstanding work in all media: glass, jewelry, wood, metal, clay, fiber and more. Explore and shop thousands of unique, handcrafted works by nearly 200 fine craftspeople at the Brandywine Valley’s most prestigious fine craft fair.

This fine craft fair unites the beauty of contemporary craft, the richness of heritage, and unique designs of American craftsmen in one premier event. Seize the opportunity to support regional professionals and American handmade works of functional and decorative craft.

Surround yourself with the beauty of handmade craft while you soak in the autumn foliage of Rittenhouse Square. The inaugural autumn complement to the Guild’s spring Fine Craft Fair at the prestigious Rittenhouse Square will bring more than 140 craftsmen to downtown Philadelphia, October 11, 12, and 13.

During the three-day event, patrons can peruse original works of hand-crafted jewelry, contemporary furniture, functional and decorative pottery, designer clothing, fine porcelain, blown glass, and more. Craftsmen are jury-selected into the show, ensuring that craft lovers and collectors find products that embody precise craftsmanship, creative design, and unique style.

Philadelphia potter Jerry Bennett exemplifies these three qualities. An expert in the use of paperclay, Bennett’s ethereal pottery is carefully formed, thoughtfully embellished, and elegantly glazed. His designs and construction are highly contemporary, but draws inspiration from traditional techniques such as pit-firing.

“Buying fine craft gives you the opportunity to express your own handmade style with something unique,” says Sherrie Boyer, executive director. “And it also gives you the opportunity to talk directly to the craftsmen who made it. It’s a gift to be able to wake up under a quilt made by someone you know, or sit down on a bench that was created just for you.”

The fine craft fair is open Friday, October 11 from 11 am – 7 pm, Saturday, October 12 from 11 am – 7 pm, and Sunday, October 13 from 11 am – 5 pm. Admission is free. More details at www.pacrafts.org/october.

At long last, fine craft is coming to the tree-lined boulevards of Rittenhouse Square.

Through a partnership with the Friends of Rittenhouse Square and in conjunction with the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen will bring its signature premier Fine Craft Fair, featuring 140 of its very finest craft artists, to downtown Philadelphia on May 11, 12 & 13, 2012. This is believed to be the first professional fine craft fair at the Square.

Founded in 1944 at the recommendation of Eleanor Roosevelt, the Pennsylvania Guild is one of the nation’s largest and most recognized craft guilds, specializing in the advocacy and support of more than 1,400 members whose handwork is known for its unparalleled skill and artistry. Fine craft is often defined as the hand and mind transformation of raw materials into inspired works of art. The finished products may be either traditional or contemporary in style and design.

“Our craftsmen and women pair the aesthetics of fine art with the technical precision of craftsmanship.” says Executive Director Sherrie Boyer. “This balance creates work that is visually unique yet often fully functional. Imagine a bowl or chair. Our artisans elevate these everyday objects into works of art with style and design so that using them daily is both delightful and practical.”

The Guild’s Fine Craft Fair is the fine craft equivalent of the much-loved Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show (held bi-annually at the same site). Both shows feature exclusively artisans who are the makers of the original work shown in each booth. Both events “circle” the square with canopies and both are part of a larger urban setting with cafes, and local eateries.

In recognition of each other’s specialties, the Fine Craft Fair will focus on hand-crafted jewelry, contemporary furniture, functional and decorative pottery, designer clothing, fine porcelain, and other interpretive works including blown glass, limited edition photography and sculpture. The Fine Art Show will continue its long tradition of exceptional two-dimensional fine art such as paintings, watercolors, oils, graphite and pastels.

The Pennsylvania Guild is known for its premier events; the Guild’s largest is in Wilmington at Chase Center on the Riverfront (early August) and in Lancaster at downtown’s new Convention Center (mid-November). Both of these shows feature 140 to 200 artisans.